PRISON RIOT Detectives’ Inquiries Nearly Finished

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 1

PRISON RIOT Detectives’ Inquiries Nearly Finished

Five detectives from the Christchurch Central Police Station have interviewed 120 prisoners, prison officers, and civilians (including members of the Apostolic Church choir) about the riot at Paparua Prison on the evening of July 26. Inquiries are almost complete. About 20 prisoners may face, charges, including wilful damage, assault, and arson Several may be jointly charged.

The police expect to be ready to prosecute the week after next. Special sittings of the Magistrate’s Court will almost certainly be held at Paparua Prison to hear the charges. The hearing of the charges may take weeks, if not months. The prisoners charged will be entitled to legal aid. Some may elect trial by jury on some of the charges. There may well be more than 50 witnesses, many of whom may be called to give evidence against different accused and on several different charges. It is likely that the magisterial inquiry to be conducted by Mr E. A. Lee, S.M., into the cause of the riot will be delayed until after the police

charges against prisoners have been laid. The Christchurch magistrates are extremely busy, and it could be some weeks before Mr Lee is able to begin the inquiry.

If the police charges take some time to be heard, and Mr Lee is engaged on the inquiry for a matter of weeks, relieving magistrates will be required in Christchurch to cope with the routine work of the Magistrate’s Court. The inquiry ordered into the riot at Mount Eden Prison has not yet begun, and no prisoners there have been brought before the court on police charges relating to the riot.